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NBA Teams in 'Difficult Position' Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated May 27, 2025 9:45 PM ET

One of the biggest crumbs of NBA trade news to hit the league here as the offseason is well underway for most teams is the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Just weeks ago, after the elimination of the Bucks from the playoffs in the first round, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that, for the first time in his 12 years in the NBA, the Bucks forward is contemplating asking for his exit out of Milwaukee.

That is, of course, huge news for any team seeking a 30-year-old star and global icon, which is just about every team in the NBA, of course.

The problem is, Antetokounmpo has yet to pick a direction, and without the say-so from Giannis, the Bucks won't begin the process of working on a trade for him. But for the handful of teams that think they'd have the ability to put together a package that could land Antetokounmpo, the waiting is the hardest part.

"It is a difficult position to be in," one Eastern Conference general manager said. "Everybody now is making their plans for the draft, they're making decisions on players. I think in the ideal world, you get this done by the draft, if you're going to do it. Whether you're the Bucks or you're the team getting Giannis, you want to know at the draft where you're going.

"But you're on the player's timeline. That makes it difficult."

The NBA draft will be held on June 25, and even if Antetokounmpo let the Bucks know what he wants a few days before then, the team would likely have time to pull off a deal on draft night.

After that, though, free agency begins on June 30. Summer leagues will follow, and that would be another pocket of time for a deal to happen. Antetokounmpo is participating in 2025 Eurobasket this summer, and will head to training camp in July so, certainly, it would be ideal for something to be done by then, if ever.

For now, though, it remains a waiting game for teams.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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